Sensing City’s driving force had lost it and was in danger of inviting a second yellow card, Hart dashed in to march Toure away from the melee.

Hart still needed help from Samir Nasri to quell Toure’s rage as he risked a dismissal and one-match ban that would have ranked as the most senseless of the season, with Liverpool at Anfield next up.

Pablo Zabaleta conceded that Hart had saved the day. ‘There was a bad challenge (by Ward-Prowse),’ said City’s right back.

‘The players wanted to keep him (Toure) away because sometimes you can get angry. ‘That’s when it’s important to have team-mates who can tell him to calm down.

‘There was a danger he could have got a
second yellow. It would have been a huge loss if we had to be without
him for a game like Liverpool.’

Held back: Toure also had to be stopped by Nasri as he attempted to confront Martin Demichelis

Early lead: Yaya Toure slotted home from the penalty spot after just three minutes

It needed two goals in a minute just before half-time, the first wrongly allowed to stand after David Silva squared the ball from an offside position, to see off a spirited Southampton.

City manager Manuel Pellegrini insisted his team will take on Liverpool at their own game next Sunday and revealed that Silva is playing through the pain of an ankle injury.

‘I hope he will be fit for the rest of the season,’ said Pellegrini. ‘We have a whole week before going to Liverpool so I don’t think there will be a problem.

In the lead: Samir Nasri scores to make it 2-1, though Southampton had cause for complaint as David Silva was offside in the build up

Back in charge: Manchester City are now just a point behind Liverpool with a game in hand after the win

‘We will go to Anfield to win. Liverpool are an attractive team who always score and that is how I like my team to play.’

Southampton striker Jay Rodriguez was carried off with a knee injury which looks like ending his hopes of an England squad place at the World Cup.

‘I’m gutted for him,’ said his strike partner Rickie Lambert. ‘We knew from seeing his face it was bad and it is horrible.’

YOU CAN'T BLAME FOY FOR LINESMAN HOWLER...

An excellent performance from Chris Foy was marred by one major talking point. His assistant, Mick McDonough, failed to see an obvious offside.

Foy correctly awarded two penalties, the first in the second minute following a challenge by Southampton’s Jose Fonte on Edin Dzeko. Pablo Zabaleta tripped Jack Cork for another clear penalty. Then came the pivotal moment.

A through-ball from Yaya Toure found Dzeko who was just onside, but when he flicked the ball to David Silva the City man was a good few yards offside (above). The assistant’s flag stayed down, which allowed Silva to square to Samir Nasri, who scored.

Perhaps McDonough was still focused on his decision from Toure’s pass and missed the flick, but the error was inexcusable. Foy, who was blameless, then did well to caution Toure when he dived.